Visiting family in Bengaluru this December and January? Here is how to keep the children busy, fed and happy between the family lunches.
At a glance: is Bengaluru good for a family trip from Australia?
Yes, and December to January is the best time to go. Days sit around 27°C with cool mornings and almost no rain. The city has big green parks, a hands-on science museum, a safari park, a theme park and a hill-top sunrise within a day trip. On the Mann Travel homepage today, Sydney to Bengaluru starts from AUD $628 per person and Brisbane to Bengaluru from AUD $668 per person, checked 14 October 2026, prices change daily.
Why Bengaluru works so well with children in December and January
Most Australian families fly to Bengaluru to see grandparents, cousins and old friends. The trouble is that children get restless after the third family lunch. The good news is that Bengaluru, more than most Indian cities, has places built for a day out.
The weather helps. December and January are the coolest, driest months of the year. Expect highs of about 27 to 28°C and lows of about 16 to 17°C. Mornings can feel chilly for kids used to an Australian summer, so pack a light jumper. Afternoons are warm but not sticky. Compare that with a Melbourne heatwave and you can see why so many families time their trip for the Australian summer school holidays, which run from mid-December 2026 to late January 2027 in most states.
The best things to do in Bengaluru with kids
We checked opening days and hours in October 2026. Hours and fees change, so confirm them before you go, especially around Christmas, New Year and Sankranti (mid-January), when crowds build.
Place | Open (check before you go) | Why kids like it |
Lalbagh Botanical Garden | Daily, about 6am to 7pm | Huge lawns, a glasshouse and a 3,000-million-year-old rock to climb. Go early and bring a ball. |
Cubbon Park | Daily; some roads closed to cars on Sundays | Shaded paths, a toy train and Bal Bhavan children’s area. Easy on the metro. |
Bannerghatta Biological Park | Closed Tuesdays; about 9.30am to 5pm, safari roughly 10am to 4.30pm | Lions, tigers and elephants from a safari bus. Book the safari online the day before. |
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum | Daily; sources vary between 9.30am and 6pm, so check | Push-button science, a dinosaur and a flight simulator. The best rainy or hot-afternoon option. |
Wonderla | About 11am to 6pm weekdays, 7pm weekends; water park 12.30pm to 5pm | Rides and water slides on the Mysuru Road. A full day. Allow an hour each way for traffic. |
ISKCON Temple, Rajajinagar | Morning darshan to about 1pm; evening from about 4.15pm to 8pm | Grand, calm and free to enter. Older kids enjoy the evening aarti and the prasadam. |
Bengaluru Palace | About 10am to 5.30pm; may close for events | Audio guide, turrets and a chance to explain “Tudor” to a nine-year-old. |
Nandi Hills (day trip) | Gates from about 6am; about 60 km north | Sunrise above the clouds. Leave by 4.30am, pack breakfast, and expect weekend crowds. |
A simple five-day plan between family visits
You will not do all of this in one go, and you do not need to. Here is a loose plan that leaves afternoons free for family.
1. Day one: sleep, then Cubbon Park
Most flights from Australia land in the early morning. Rest until lunch, then take a slow walk in Cubbon Park at 4pm when the light is soft.
2. Day two: Lalbagh and a dosa
Be at Lalbagh by 7am before the joggers thin out. Climb the rock, feed the ducks, then head to MTR on Lalbagh Road for a masala dosa. Expect a queue on weekends. CTR in Malleshwaram is the other local favourite for benne (butter) dosa. Both open early and close between meals, so check the day’s hours.
3. Day three: Bannerghatta safari
Book online, leave by 8.30am, and do the safari first while the animals are active. Bring hats and water. Skip Tuesdays, when the park is closed.
4. Day four: science museum and the metro
Take the Namma Metro to Cubbon Park station and walk to the Visvesvaraya museum. Children under about 12 will spend hours here. The metro ride itself is a hit with kids and avoids the traffic completely.
5. Day five: Wonderla or Nandi Hills
Pick one. Wonderla is the easy choice for ages 6 and up. Nandi Hills suits families who can manage a 4.30am start and want a sunrise photo that grandparents will frame.
Getting around Bengaluru with children
Traffic is the one thing every visitor talks about. A 10 km trip across the city can take an hour at peak times. A few things that make life easier:
- Use the Namma Metro where you can. The Purple and Green lines cover MG Road, Cubbon Park, Majestic and Malleshwaram. It is clean, cheap and air-conditioned. The airport metro line is still under construction, with phased openings expected through 2027, so plan on a car from the airport for this trip.
- Kempegowda International Airport is about 35 to 40 km north of the city centre. Allow 60 to 90 minutes by taxi, longer at peak. Pre-paid taxi counters and app cabs both work; ask your family which they use.
- Travel between 10am and 4pm. Mornings before 8am and the middle of the day are far quieter than 5pm to 8pm.
- Car seats are rare in app cabs. If you have a toddler, bring a lightweight travel seat or plan shorter trips.
Practical tips for Australian families
- Visas first. Australian passport holders need an Indian e-visa or OCI card for every traveller, including babies. Apply through the official Indian visa website at least a few weeks ahead.
- Book flights early for mid-December. Seats for the first weekend of the school holidays go first. Sydney and Brisbane families have one-stop options through Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide families connect through the same hubs. Flying to Delhi instead? Explore Adelaide to Delhi route Flight.
- Spread the cost. PayLite lets you lock in your family’s fare with a low deposit and pay the rest in up to 26 weekly instalments on selected refundable fares. Afterpay is accepted.
- Students and teachers. Mann Travel Latest Offer is free for verified Australian students and education staff and takes an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights to India. It is valid for 30 days, renewable, and cannot be combined with other promotions.
- Pack for two seasons. Light jumpers for 6am, sunscreen and hats for the afternoon, and closed shoes for parks and the safari.
- Keep bottled water and simple snacks in the bag. Most children adjust to the food within a day or two if you start with idli, dosa and rice.
Why book your Bengaluru trip with Mann Travel?
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped travellers from Australia get home to India. Our Melbourne-based team specialises in Australia–India routes, speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, and is on call 24/7. We book family and group trips to Bengaluru every summer, so we know which connections work with young children and which fares allow changes. Questions? Contact us any time.
Let’s take you home to Bengaluru these holidays.
Search live fares at manntravel.com.au/flights or call our team on 1300 754 002. Ask about PayLite for family bookings.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Bengaluru in December and January?
Mild and dry. Daytime highs are about 27 to 28°C and early mornings about 16 to 17°C. It is the most comfortable time of year to visit with children.
Which Bengaluru attractions are best for young children?
Cubbon Park, Lalbagh, the Visvesvaraya museum and the Bannerghatta safari suit most ages. Wonderla is best from about age six.
Is Bannerghatta Biological Park open every day?
No. It is closed on Tuesdays. On other days it opens at about 9.30am, with safaris until about 4.30pm. Check before you go.
How far is Kempegowda airport from Bengaluru city?
About 35 to 40 km north of the centre. Allow 60 to 90 minutes by road. The airport metro line is not yet open.
How much are flights from Australia to Bengaluru?
On the Mann Travel homepage today, Sydney to Bengaluru starts from AUD $628 per person and Brisbane to Bengaluru from AUD $668 per person, checked 14 October 2026, prices change daily. No Melbourne, Perth or Adelaide to Bengaluru fare was shown on the homepage today, so call us for those.
Fares and availability change daily and depend on the airline, date and fare type. Opening hours and fees were checked on 14 October 2026 and can change without notice. Always check live prices and current government travel advice at smartraveller.gov.au before booking.
